Football Training Aid

ABSTRACT

A glove comprising a trap or palm area that is designed to receive the end section of a football is provided herein. The shape of the glove has a continuous round edge, which allows the edge to act as a funnel to guide all errant throws into the webbing of the glove. With the rounded shape of the glove, the overall width of the glove will allow for a larger surface area for successfully catching a throw. The overall width and larger surface area of the glove further serves to reduce the chance a caught football will pop out of the glove.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/825,490 filed on Mar. 28, 2019 entitled “Gridiron Glove”,the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to a football training aid, andmore particularly, to a glove that allows users to more easily catchfootballs while reducing the discomfort of repeated catches.

Description of the Related Art

Gloves are generally worn to protect the hands of the user wearing theglove. The field of sporting goods is replete with gloves that have beenadapted for the particular sport being played. For example, in baseballa glove is worn to enable the wearer to catch a baseball and to reducethe force of impact. The glove protects the wearer's hand by absorbingsome of the force imparted by the ball. Baseball gloves traditionallyhave padding built into the palm of the glove for reducing the force ofimpact. The padding cushions the blow delivered by the ball, protectingthe wearer from pain and injury. The protective features of a baseballglove are particularly important for protecting from the repeatedimpacts that typically occur during practice sessions.

Various materials, such as felt or cotton, have traditionally been usedas padding in baseball gloves. The amount of cushioning provided isdependent upon the type and thickness of the padding material. With thedemand for a greater degree of protection, the thickness of the paddingin baseball gloves has been increased. While improving the ability ofthe glove to absorb the force of impact, the increased thicknessinterferes with the wearer's ability to catch a ball.

The size and shape of gloves are important in order to maximize theefficiency and protective qualities of the glove. Sporting gloves aredesigned in a particular shape so that they more functional and allow aplayer to be more effective. A baseball glove substantially increasesthe catching area of a wearer's hand. The glove must be somewhatflexible, enabling the wearer to effectively manipulate the glove. Whenthe wearer feels the ball strike the glove, he must quickly bring theedges of the glove around the ball to prevent it from dropping to theground. Similarly, the player must be able to efficiently release theball and transfer it to his other hand.

Increasing the amount of padding material provided in the baseball glovesacrifices the amount of control the wearer will have when catching aball. The thicker glove is more difficult to manipulate, interferingwith the wearer's ability to retain the ball. The feel of the ball issubstantially diminished by the thicker padding, increasing wearer'sreaction time to the impact of the ball. Although the additional paddingmore effectively absorbs the force of impact, the reduced flexibilityand increased response time significantly reduces the wearer's abilityto catch a ball. A baseball glove which substantially absorbs the forceof impact imparted by the ball while maximizing the wearer's control forcatching a ball is desirable.

While gloves exist for many different sports such as baseball, hockey,lacrosse, and so on, there is no glove that has been designed for usewith the sport of American football that allows a player to catch theball more easily. Football gloves do exist, but they are thin, fingeredgloves intended to be worn by players to increase the friction orstickiness of their hand while providing minimal protection orcushioning. These gloves do not offer significant protection or reduceinjury that can occur in practice from repeatedly catching a football.The present invention satisfies this deficiency in the prior art byproviding a glove that makes it easier to catch a football andeffectively absorbs the force of impact.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is specifically designed trap a football whileprotecting a player's hand. The invention provides a glove comprising atrap or palm area that is designed to receive the end section of afootball. The shape of the glove has a continuous round edge, whichallows the edge to act as a funnel to guide all errant throws into thewebbing of the glove. With the rounded shape of the glove, the overallwidth of the glove will allow for a larger surface area for successfullycatching a throw. The overall width and larger surface area of the glovefurther serves to reduce the chance a caught football will pop out ofthe glove. Lace webbing constructed as part of the glove compriseshorizontal vertical strips of leather woven together, which offersflexibility and visibility. Furthermore, the glove is designed to bewater resistant so that players using the present invention in wet ordamp conditions have some protection from the elements.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a glove designed to catch afootball is provided that can be worn on the right or left hand of auser. The palm and finger areas of the glove are constructed to protectthe user from soreness, injury and fatigue caused by a football beingreceived in the palm of the glove. The design of the glove providesprotection of the hand and therefore reduced risk of injury, fatigue,soreness, for the user. Modifications of the finger and hand area of theglove allow users to more easily catch footballs. Some of themodifications include introducing layers of padding to protect themiddle phalanx of the index finger above the proximal interphalangealjoint and below the center axis of rotation of the distalinterphalangeal joint. Padding may also be added to layer the proximalphalanx of the long finger above the metacarpal phalangeal joint andbelow the center axis of rotation of the proximal interphalangeal joint,as well as other areas of the hand or fingers. The padding architectureof the glove comprises a sheet form and is trace stitched in areas wherethe individual digits may require improved flexibility and/orarticulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side rear view of the finger area of a glove designed tocatch a football as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevated rear view of a glove designed to catch a footballas according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a glove designed to catch a football asaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side rear view of the webbing area of a glove designed tocatch a football showing the interior of the glove and football traparea as according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a second side rear view of the finger area of a glove designedto catch a football as according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 that will be discussed together, there isshown a football training aid for use when catching a football. Thepresent invention provides a glove that is scaled and shaped to trap afootball when it caught by the user. The glove comprises several areasthat server to receive and stop a football while minimizing impact andshock to the hand of the user. The user's hand enters the bottom of theglove through a hand entrance (101). The user's fingers and palm enteran area within the glove that is the palm compartment (104) while thethumb enters a separate area that is the thumb compartment (105).Between the thumb compartment (105) and palm compartment (104) is aseparation, an area that comprises the trap (106) of the glove. The trap(106) is the part of the glove that is the primary arrest area for thefootball when it is caught by a user. That is, the trap (106) stops theforward motion of the football while containing it and preventing itfrom falling out of the glove.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the trap (106) is comprisedof a vertical member (103) and two horizontal members (100) that arewoven or otherwise attached together. In other embodiments of theinvention, there may be any of a plurality of vertical members (103) ordiffering numbers of horizontal (100) members. The illustratedembodiment that has one vertical member (103) and two horizontal members(100) is exemplary in nature only.

The vertical (103) and horizontal (100) members are constructed from aflexible and durable material such as leather and are spaced so that auser can see between the members if necessary. The size of the trap(106) is such that the height of the trap (106) is the same as, orslightly taller, than the circumference of a football. The width of thetrap (106) is approximately the same as the circumference of a footballbut can be slightly smaller or larger in some embodiments. In anembodiment of the present invention, the vertical member (103) haslacing that is similar to the lacing found on a football.

The palm compartment (104) is where the fingers and palm of a userreside when wearing the glove. In some embodiments the palm compartment(104) can have a layer of padding to pad the middle phalanx of the indexfinger above the proximal interphalangeal joint and below the centeraxis of rotation of the distal interphalangeal joint. The padding canalso layer the proximal phalanx of the long finger above the metacarpalphalangeal joint and below the center axis of rotation of the proximalinterphalangeal joint. The architecture of the padding can be a sheetform and trace stitched in areas where the individual digit may requireimproved flexibility or articulation.

To further increased flexibility and articulation, embodiments of theinvention can have 2 or 4-way stretch materials aside the fingers in thepalm compartment (104) and aside the thumb in the thumb compartment(105) that operate to improve finger flexibility in the bony areas ofthe fingers and thumbs. Thin, elasticized material may be used in thearea of the finger joints and knuckles and soft padding such as brushedcotton flannel, leather, neoprene or other man-made materials can beplaced inside the compartments (104), (105), or on the exterior of theglove in selected areas.

The area of the glove comprising the palm compartment (104) has acontinuous rounded edge extending around the entirety of the glove. Thetrap (106) had a rounded edge, the palm compartment (104) has a roundededge, the thumb compartment (105) has a rounded edge, and the front ofthe hand opening (101) has a rounded edge that all form a single,continuous rounded edge around the entire glove. The rounded edge isdesigned and constructed to be a funnel that guides errant throws intothe trap (106) of the glove.

The dimensions of the glove are designed to allow a football to becaught within the glove and to prevent the football from inadvertentlyexiting the glove. The distance from the center of the trap (106) to therounded edge of the thumb compartment (105) is approximately half thelength of a football. On the opposite side of the glove, the distancefrom the center of the trap (106) to the rounded edge of the palmcompartment (104) is approximately the same, or slightly less, than thelength of a football. These proportions allow the glove to capturefootball without it being deflected or falling out.

Embodiments of the present invention are constructed from durable,weather-resistant materials such as leather or other suitable natural orman-made materials. In an embodiment of the present invention, the gloveis constructed from a pebble-grain leather similar to the leather that afootball glove is constructed from.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects andadvantages are within the scope of the present invention. To theaccomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may beembodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attentionbeing called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrativeonly, and that changes may be made in the specific constructionillustrated and described within the scope of this application.

I claim:
 1. A football training aid comprising: a glove with a traparea, palm compartment, hand opening, and a thumb compartment; the outeredge of the glove having a continuous, rounded edge; the trap being ofsufficient depth to capture a football; and the continuous rounded edgebeing shaped to create a funnel leading to the trap area.
 2. Thefootball training aid of claim 1 wherein the trap area comprises onevertical member and two horizontal members.
 3. The football training aidof claim 1 wherein the outer edge of the trap area, palm compartment,hand opening, and thumb compartment are rounded.
 4. The footballtraining aid of claim 3 wherein the rounded edges of the trap area, palmcompartment, hand opening, and thumb compartment together form therounded edge of the glove.
 5. The football training aid of claim 3wherein the distance from the center of the trap to the rounded edge ofthe thumb compartment is approximately half the length of a football. 6.The football training aid of claim 3 wherein the distance from thecenter of the trap to the rounded edge of the palm compartment isapproximately the same as, or slightly less than, the length of afootball.
 7. The football training aid of claim 1 wherein the glove isconstructed from a durable, weather-resistant material.
 8. A glove forcatching a football comprising: an area within the glove for a user'spalm and fingers; an area within the glove for a user's thumb; a traparea, constructed between the area for the user's palm and fingers andthe area for the user's thumb, that is designed to trap a football; thetrap area having a distance to the edge of the area within the glove fora user's thumb that is approximately half the length of a football; thetrap area having a distance to the edge of the area within the glove fora user's palm and fingers of that is approximately the same as, orslightly less, than a football; and the glove having a continuousrounded edge.
 9. The glove of claim 8 further comprising an opening fora user to insert their hand.
 10. The glove of claim 8 wherein the traparea is comprised of a vertical member and at least one cross member.11. The glove of claim 8 wherein the trap area, the area for the user'spalm and fingers and the area for the user's thumb have rounded edges.12. The glove of claim 8 further comprising padding that pads the middlephalanx of the index finger.
 13. The glove of claim 8 further comprising2 or 4-way stretch materials that are constructed in the area for auser's palm and fingers.
 14. The glove of claim 8 wherein the glove hasa funnel shape that directs footballs to the trap area.
 15. The glove ofclaim 8 wherein the glove is constructed from leather.
 16. A footballtraining aid comprising: a trap area; a palm compartment; a thumbcompartment; wherein the trap area is constructed between the palmcompartment and the thumb compartment; the trap area, the palmcompartment, and the thumb compartment being attached together such thatthey have a common, continuous rounded edge; the trap area beingpositioned approximately half the length of a football from an edge ofthe thumb compartment; and the palm compartment being positionedapproximately the length of, or slightly less than, the length of afootball from an edge of palm compartment.
 17. The football training aidof claim 16 further comprising a hand opening having a curved edge. 18.The football training aid of claim 16 wherein the trap area comprises atleast one vertical member and at least one horizontal member that areattached.
 19. The football training aid of claim 16 wherein palmcompartment and thumb compartment are shaped to create a funnel thatleads to the trap area.
 20. The football training aid of claim 16wherein palm compartment contains padding.